Mhadei to rock KBM's Yuva Mahotsav on Sat-Sun in Panaji

Mhadei will once again rock Goa Yuva Mahotsav, the biggest festival of students and youth in Goa, with a ‘Mhadei Jyot’ (torch) entering the state capital after travelling all the colleges.

Around 10,000 students and youth are expected to storm Panaji on 12 and 13 December – Saturday and Sunday – with Dholl, Tashe and the fervour of Konkani identity at the 21st edition of youth festival organized by Konkani Bhasha Mandal.

Prior to Goa Yuva Mahotsav, the organisers have decided to take Mhadei Jyot to several colleges all over Goa, to be culminated at the festival venue on Saturday.

Almost 13 years ago, in 2002, the activists of Goa Yuva Mahotsav had taken the Mhadei Jyot all over Goa, creating awareness over the issue of Mhadei and Karnataka’s move to divert Goa’s lifeline (also called Mandovi river in Panaji) at the cost of Goa’s survival.

In fact it had all begun at the Seventh Goa Yuva Mahotsav held in Valpoi on 25 and 26 January 2002, where the focus was Mhadei.

Same year, the Mahotsav activists had celebrated 125th Birth Anniversary of Shenoi Goembab with Mhadei Jyot.

“While it is a festival full of competitions related to performing art, many competitions this year have been woven around the theme of Mhadei”, said Chetan Acharya, president of Konkani Bhasha Mandal.

Environmentalist Rajendra Kerkar, the secretary of Mhadei Bachao Abhiyan and Dr Prakash Parienkar, who has researched a book on Mhadei, will also be interviewed at the Mahotsav this year.

5O GROUPS – 3500 ARTISTS

Entries for Mahotsav have been closed at 50 this year, said working president Anwesha Singbal, consisting of higher secondary schools, colleges and open groups of youth with around 3500 participants.

The festival conducts 13 creative competitions in the field of music, dance, theatre, films, literature, painting, oratory and even unique fashion show called ‘Mushtaiki’, besides a quiz only on Goa.

Panaji MLA Siddharth Kuncalienker, the reception committee chairman, has been personally monitoring the preparations at Bandodkar ground at Campal and Darya Sangam of Kala Academy.

The festival will be inaugurated at 10 am on 12 December after another unique competition called Naman, where students dressed in traditional costumes project different facets of Goa in a procession.

TRIBUTES TO NIZ GOENKAR

Goa Yuva Mahotsav also pays tributes to eminent deceased Goans, who have played major role in preserving Goan identity, by naming several venues after them.

The entire venue of the Mahotsav is this year being named after Goa’s eminent historian Dr Jose Pereira.

The Main stage will be named after Goa’s former Chief Minister Dr Wilfred D'Souza whereas the entrance will be named after firebrand social activist Fr Bismarque Dias.

The second stage is named after noted musician Emiliano D'Cruz.

The Street play square has been named after photographer Joel D'Souza and Faski competition gallery has been named after Tiatrist Anil Kumar.